Roughage mill



P 1 J. HOLLAND-LETZ ROUGHAGE MILL Filed June 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 5, 1933. v J. HOLLAND-LETZ 1,925,394

ROUGHAGE MILL Filed June 20., 1928 -3 Sheets-Sheet 2 p 1933- J. HOLLAND-LETZ 1,925,394

ROUGHAGE MILL Filed June 20. 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J 19 Y j I j 1 2% Patented. Sept. 5,1933

1,925,394 ROUGHAGE' lVflLL John lliollanddletz, Crown Point, Ind, assignor' to The Letz Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Indiana implication lions 20, 1928. Serial No. 286,727

12 Claims.

v floating endless belt construction.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved construction of a feeding mechanism for a roughage mill or similar device, in which the upper endless feed belt is of such a construction as to eliminate the accumulation of material between both sides of the belt.

A further object. of the invention is to provide a novel and improved form of an upper feed belt 1 construction for a roughage mill of the floating belt type in which two substantially vertically spaced apart floating rollers positioned adjacent the cutting mechanism are arranged so that a portion of the belt travels in a substantially vertical plane adjacent the cutting mechanism in a manner to permit the material to drop from the slats'of the belt as they travel upwardly.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construction for adjusting the tension of the upper endless feed belt and also the manner of floatingly supporting the upper belt in its proper position above the primary or conveyor feed belt.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing a construction and arrangement of the various parts in the manner hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a frag- 1 mentary side elevational view of a roughage mill, partly in cross section with some of the parts removed therefrom, showing my improved upper feed belt mounted thereon.

2 is a detailed side elevational view showing the manner in which the upper feed belt frame is journalled in the side frame members of the mill and also showing the mechanism for adjusting the tension of the feed belt.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view partly in cross section of the upper floating feed belt frame and belt.

Fig. i is an enlarged detailed plan view of the side frame'bearing supporting bracket.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the bearing bracket shown in Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of one of the frame members of the endless belt, which forms the pivotal connection with the frame of the mill for the floating belt, and

Fig.7 is an enlarged detailed plan view of one of the endless belt slats.

the floating type of upper feed belt in combi- Heretofore considerable difficulty has been experienced, particularly with certain kinds of materials which are fed through roughage mills and the like machines, which employ a conventional type of upper feed belt employing only two spaced apart rollers or sprockets and in which both laps of the belt travel in parallel relation, in that finely out material and long hay accumulates between the upperand'lowerlaps of the feed belt to such an extent that the feed belt is either completely choked, or in some instances, excessive wear of the parts occurs so rapidly that the upper feed belt is rendered inoperative in a short time. It is, therefore, the primary object of the invention to provide 0 a novel and improved form of upper floating feed belt in which the belt travels about three spaced apart journaled bearings so that two of the journaled bearings or rollers cause a portion of the feed belt to travel in a substantially vertical path adjacent the free floating end of the belt, whichis located to travel contiguously with respect to the cutting mechanism of the mill.

Referring to the drawings, I have illustrated one form of my invention in connection with a roughage mill generally indicated by the reference character 10. While I have illustrated in the drawings a conventional form of roughage mill for the grinding of various types of forage, it will, of course, be understood that the present invention is adapted to various other types of mills, as well as ensilage cutters, which employ nation with the conventional form of endless con veyor belts.

The mill shown in the drawings comprises the main frame 11, which is supported on the usual standards or legs 12, only twoof which are shown. Revolvably mounted on suitable bearings 13, secured to the frame 11 is a revolving cutter head 14;. which is secured to a main shaft 15. Secured to the frame 11 in any well known man ner, are two side frame members 16, only one of which is shown in Fig. 1. Secured to the side frame members 16 are two angle members 17- which form the support for and guide the lower conveyor belt 18. The lower conveyor belt 18 is driven by suitable sprockets not shown, secured to the shaft 19. The outer end of the conveyor belt 18 is journaled about a roller, not shown. Positioned below the cutter head 14 is a conveyor trough 20 in which a conveyor, not shown, is mounted. The side frame members 16, which form the pivotal support for the floating endless belt frame are secured to the main frame 11, in any well known manner. These side frame members are provided at their upper end with relatively large apertures 21 within which are pivotally mounted the circular flanges 22 of the pivot brackets 23. Secured to each of the pivotal brackets by means of bolts 24 and 25 are two steel straps 25. The lower ends of these two steel straps 26 are secured by means of bolts 27 to the two roller supporting side frame members 28. Each of the side frame members 28 are provided with spaced apart in wardly projecting studs 29, on which are journaled two spaced apart rollers 30. These rollers 30 are preferably in the form of three spaced apart discs 31 which are formed integrally with a common hub 32, with the discs adapted to engage the center portionof the slats of the inner belt and a portion adjacent each of the outer ends thereof. Adjustably secured by means of the upper bolts are bearing brackets 33. These bearing brackets are provided with slotted apertures 34 through which the upper bolts 24 may be adjustably received. The brackets 33 are provided with recessed portions 35, surrounding the slotted apertures 34 for the accommodation of the heads of the bolts on the inner sides of the brackets. Arranged on either side of the slots 34 in the brackets 33 are two parallel ribs 36 forming recesses therebetween for slidably re ceiving the steel straps or side frame members 25. Provided on the upper sides of the brackets are vertically extending cars 37 having longitudinal apertures 38 extending therethrough for the reception of hook bolts hereinafter described, for adjusting the tension of the belt. The bearing brackets 33 are provided with a bore 39 in which are mounted bearing boxes 40 which are locked from rotation by means of two project ing lugs 41 which engage an upwardly projecting lubricating spout 42 formed on each of these bearing bushings. Arranged concentrically with the bores 39 of the brackets 33 and formed integrally therewith, are arcuately arranged chain guiding ribs 43 forguiding the slats of the end less belt in its travel around the upper end of the floating frame. Extending longitudinally of and above the center line passing through the axis of the bearings in the brackets 33 are ribs 44 which are adapted to slidably engage an inwardly projecting lug 45, formed on each of the members 23 for maintaining the bearings for the upper end of the endlecss belt on the longitudinal center line of the floating frame. EX- tending through the hearing bushings 40 is a shaft 46. Secured to the shaft 46 are two spaced apart sprockets 4? over which are trained two 31, of each ofthe rollers 30.

endless chains 48. Secured to the endless chains 48 in a manner well understood in the art are transverse slats 49. These slats 49, as well as the chain 48, are driven by the sprockets 47. While the free end of the floating belt is trained about the rollers 30 so that the surface of the slats contact with peripheral surface of the discs The members 23 form the pivotal connection for the floating belt with the side frame member 16 of the mill. Each of the members 23 is provided with vertically disposed ears 50, having apertures 51 into which are hooked bolts 52. One end of the hook bolts extends through the apertures 38 in the ears 37 with the threaded ends of the bolts being provided with nuts 53 for adjusting the bearings 44 and brackets 33, as well as the shaft 46 for tightening the endless belt.

It will be noted that the bearings 40 extend through the openings 22 in the pivot brackets 23 and are capable of being adjusted from one side of the opening 22 as shown in 2, until they occupy a position on the other side of the opening. In other words, the 'ightening mechanism herein shown and described can be adjusted by adjusting the nuts 53 so that the length of one slat be removed in the endless belt when the belt becomes too loose. The two sets of chains 48 forming the endless belt have secured thereto on one side, slats 49, which are preferably made of steel and have one edge thereof 55, bent up at substantially an angle of This upper floating feed belt is adapted to travel over the rollers 30 as shown at 56 in a direction substantially vertical plane adjacent the cutter head 14 so that any material accumulating thereon will drop down into the cutting mechanism. As previously pointed out, each of the annular rims 22 of the pivot brackets is journaled in aligned openings 21 formed in the side plates 16 so as to permit the upper feed belt to have a floating action in feeding the various amounts of material fed between the two endless belts. The upper feed belt is normally held pressed downwardly into engagement with the material being fed thereby, by two rods 58 which are provided at their upper ends with hook portions 59 which engage apertured ears 60, formed on the outside of the side frame members 28. The lower ends of these rods 58 extend through apertured cars 61 formed on the side frame 16. The lower ends of the rods are provided with compression springs 62 which engage one side of the ears 61. The tension of the springs are adjusted by nuts 64 which engage the other ends of the springs and are mounted in threaded engagement with the lower threaded portions 65 of the rod 58. Secured to one end of the shaft 46 is a sprocket 55. The sprocket 66 is driven by a second sprocket 67 which is mounted on a stud 68 secured to the frame in any well known manner. The sprocket 66 is driven by the sprocket 67 by means of a chain 69. The power is transmitted from the main shaft 15 through a plurality of intermediate transmission gears which include a pinion 70, meshing with agear '71, journalled on a stud 72 secured in any well known manner to the frame of the machine. Formed integrally with the gear 71 is a pinion 73 which meshes with and operatively drives another gear 74, which in turn is journalled on a stud Z5. The stud 75 is supported on the frame of the machine by a bracket, not shown. Formed integrally with the gears 74 is a second gear 75, which in turn meshes with and operatively drives another gear '77. The gear '77 is iournalled on a roller shaft '78, secured to the frame in any well known manner. Formed integrally with the gear 77 is a second gear 79 which operatively drives a gear (not shown) formed integrally with the sprocket 67. The side frame brackets 28 are held in spaced relation with respect to each other by a cross plate 8i) which is secured to right angularly bent portions 81 by means of rivets 82. The upper portion of the floating feed belt frame is held in spaced relation by a spacer bar 83 which has its outer ends bent at right angles 7 as shown at 84 and secured thereto by of the bolts 25. The upper ends of the side frame members 16 are provided with apertured ears 85 which are braced together by a tie bar 86, which has its opposite ends bent at right c. in;

angles as shown at 8'7, and secured to these cars by means of bolts 88. Extending over the top of the knife head it is a cover 89 to which is secured by means of rivets 90, a shield 91, which prevents material from being discharged on the cover of the cutter head when the floating belt is in an elevated position. Secured to or formed as a part of the cross plate is a shield 91 which has right angularly bent portions 92 which are secured to the outside walls of the side plates 16 in any well known manner. The shield covers the floating end of the upper feed belt and directs or deflects the material downwardly into the cutter head, that is particularly any of the material carried by that portion of the belt travelling between the two substantially vertical positioned rollers 3f). The side frame members 16 are recessed as shown at 93 so that the nut on the bolt 25 will not interfere with the floating action of the upper feed belt frame and also so that easy access to this nut may be had when it is desired to adjust the tension of the upper feed belt. '7

From the above description, it will be observed that by spacing the two rollers 30 on the floating frame, in a substantially vertical alignment so that the inner end of the belt travels substantially in a vertical plane, that a lesser number of slats 5e assume angles with respect to each other, than would be the case if there were only one roller adjacent the cutter head. By reducing the number of slats which are positioned angularly with respect to each other, a lesser amount of material is admitted between the laps of the belt and also, by holding both laps of the belt distinctly apart by reason of the two rollers 30,

the accumulation of material between laps is eliminated and if, by chance, any material collects between these laps, the material has a better opportunity to be discharged therefrom, thereby reducing the choking of the upper feed belt, as well as reducing the amount of repairs for the same. If it becomes necessary to adjust the tension of the upper feed belt, the nuts on the bolts 24 oneach side of the frame are loosened and the nuts 53 of each of the hook bolts are adjusted so as to shift the bearing brackets 33 with respect to the pivot brackets 23 and ivhen'the proper adjustment has been secured, the nuts on the bolts 24 are then tightened.

While in the above description I have described the shaft e6 as being adjustable it will of course, be understood the bearings for the upper roller 30 may be made adjustable in the side frame members 23 for adjusting the tension of the belt and still be within contemplation of my invention.

From the above description it will be seen that I have not only provided a simple and eflicient upper feed belt construction for a roughage mill and the like machine, but I have also provided a novel construction which permits an easy and accessible adjustment for varying the tension of the upper feed belt, andone which will eliminate the accumulation of material between the laps thereof so as to prevent choking of the same and unnecessary Wear of the parts.

While in the above specification I have described one embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, it will, of course, be understood the same is capable of modification, and that modification may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A feeding mechanism for a roughage mill, comprising a floating pivoted frame pivoted to said mill, said frame including three spaced apart journaled members, a feed belt trained about said journaled members, one of said journaled members normally located eccentric with respect to and within the bearings forming the pivot of said frame, and means for adjusting said last named journaled member across the diameter of said pivot for varying the tension of saidbelt.

2. A feeding mechanism for a roughage mill comprising a frame pivoted to said mill, a driven mounted eccentrically with respect to and within the bearing forming the pivot of said frame, a feed belt mounted in said frame, two spaced apart rollers mounted on the free end of said frame and located substantially equal distance from the pivot 01 said frame, said belt trained about said rollers and driven by said shaft.

3. A feeding mechanism for a roughage mill comprising a frame pivoted to said mill, a shaft journaled 'in said frame at a point substantially eccentric of the pivot of said frame, two spaced apart rollers mounted in the free end of said frame and located on substantially equal radii from the pivot of said frame, and endless belt trained about said rollers and driven by said shaft.

i. A feeding mechanism for a roughage mill or the like machine comprising a frame pivoted to said mill, an endless belt mounted on said frame including a plurality of closely connected slats, driving means mounted on said frame adjacent said pivot for driving said belt, spaced apart rollers mounted on the free end of said belt, one lap of said belt travelling in a general upward direction between said rollers whereby the material conveyed by the belt is prevented from falling into the laps of said belt.

5. A feeding mechanism for a roughage mill or the like machine, comprising a frame pivoted to said mill, a feed belt mounted in said frame, brackets having circular flanges forming the pivotal connection between said frame and said mill, and meansadjustable within said circular flanges for varying the tension of said belt.

6. A feeding mechanism for a roughagemill or the like machine, comprising a frame pivoted to said mill, an endless belt mounted in said frame, brackets having annular bearing portions secured to said frame and forming the pivotal connection with said mill, bearing brackets adjustably secured to said frame, and a shaft journaled on said bearing brackets and extending into said annular bearing portions, said shaft being adjustable with respect to said pivot brackets for adjusting the tension of said belt.

'7. A feeding mechanism for a roughage mill or the like machine, comprising a frame pivoted to said mill, an endless belt mounted on frame, said frame including bearing brackets adjustjably secured thereto, a shaft journaled in said bearing brackets and pivot brackets secured to said frame and surrounding said shaft whereby said shaft may be adjusted with respect to said pivot brackets for varying the tension of said belt.

8. A feeding mechanism for a roughage mill comprising a frame pivoted to said mill, an endless belt mounted on said frame and having major laps thereof travelling in more than two 159 planes, said belt including a plurality of closely connected slats, one of the laps of said belt travelling in a generally upward direction whereby the material conveyed thereby is prevented from falling into the laps of said belt.

9. The combination with a roughage mill having a conveying mechanism for conveying the material thereto, side walls located on the opposite side of said conveying mechanism having 0ppositely disposed aligned apertures therein, a floating feeding mechanism including a frame, an endless belt mounted on said frame, circular flanges secured to the opposite sides of said frame and adapted to extend into the apertures in said side walls for pivotally supporting said feeding mechanism on said roughage mill, and a drive shaft journaled in said frame and extending into the circular flanges whereby said shaft may be adjusted therein for varying the tension of said endless belt.

10. A feeding mechanism for a roughage mill comprising a frame pivoted to said mill, a driving means mounted on said frame adjacent said pivot, two spaced apart rollers mounted on the free end of said frame and located at substantially equal radii from the pivot of said frame, and

an endless belt trained about said rollers, said belt comprising substantially contiguously spaced slats whereby a lapof said belt located on the free end of said frame travels in substantially a vertical plane and prevents material-from passing in between said slats.

11. A feeding mechanism for a roughage mill comprising a frame pivoted to said mill, an endless belt including a plurality of contiguously spaced slats mounted on said frame, driving means mounted on said frame adjacent said pivot for driving said belt, two rollers mounted on the free end of said frame and spaced substantially vertically apart whereby a lap of said belt on the free end of said frame travels insubstantially a vertical plane. 7

12. A feeding mechanism for a roughage mill comprising a frame pivoted to said mill, an endless belt mounted on said frame and having major laps thereof traveling in three distinct planes, said belt including a plurality of contiguously connected slats, one of the laps of said belt traveling in a generally upward direction whereby the material conveyed thereby is prevented from falling into the laps of said belt.

JOHN HOLLAND-LETZ. 

